Sushil Modi, former Bihar deputy chief minister of Bihar and a BJP Rajya Sabha member, on Tuesday made certain remarks about the royal family of the erstwhile princely state of Cooch Behar and Gayatri Devi (1919-2009), the princess of this family who later became the queen of Jaipur.

District Trinamul leaders accused him of making “derogatory” remarks about the royal family and sought an apology from him. Later in the evening, the BJP leader tried to control the damage.

Visiting the palace here, the Bihar BJP leader said royals used to lead a luxurious life at the cost of common people.

“The kings and royals would collect taxes from common people and use the money to make huge mansions. They had a luxurious lifestyle, would indulge in multiple marriages, and were least bothered about the rights of commoners. These people were fond of hunting. It is because of this practice that the population of tigers came down in the country,” said the BJP's Rajya Sabha member.

He also spoke about Gayatri Devi and referred to the Lok Sabha elections of 1962 when she had contested and won as a Swatantra Party candidate from Jaipur. She had contested against a lower caste woman of the same name, said the BJP leader.

Such remarks by him made Trinamul react. The party demonstrated in front of the palace gate, burnt his effigy, and demanded that the visiting BJP leader should apologise before leaving the district.

Avijit De Bhowmik, the district Trinamul president, said the BJP leader made derogatory comments against the royal family and Gayatri Devi.

“He has little knowledge about the history of Cooch Behar and the benevolent royals who did a lot for people here. We condemn his statements and will launch a movement unless he apologises. It is surprising that none of the local BJP leaders and legislators who were with him objected to his remarks,” said De Bhowmik.

In Cooch Behar, the local population and especially the Rajbanshi community has strong sentiments towards the royal family.

Later in the evening, the saffron camp resorted to damage control, realising they might have to face protests from influential quarters of the society for the visiting leader's remarks.

Sushil Modi also spoke to the media again. This time, he tried to come up with a “clarification.”

“Whatever I have said is not about the kings of Cooch Behar. It was a general remark about most of the kings and royals of this country. The kings here have worked for peoples’ interests. Also, Gayatri Devi was known for her service to people. She had even spent months in jail,” said the BJP leader.

The BJP leader added that his party had a lot of respect for the Rajbanshi community.

“We have high respect for the Rajbanshis. That is why Nisith Pramanik, the Cooch Behar MP (who is also a member of the Rajbanshi community), is a Union minister,” he said.

Pramanik is the minister of state in the ministry of home affairs.